Meter and switch mounting support



Aug. 29, 1933.

G. w. scHAFER 1,924,659

METER AND SWITCH MOUNTING SUPPORT Filed Sept.

30 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jrvtmvboz Geo/"ye WScfiafer 1933- G. w. SCHAFER METER AND SWITCH MOUNTING SUPPORT Filed Sept. 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Q we a? 6 9% w p d Q 0 if? Q 2 9 Q Q Q w W0 w w a Q E w m v Q 3mm George WSOAQKBI Patented Aug. 29, 1933 PATENT OFFICE METER AND SWITCH MOUNTING SUPPORT George W. SchaferQLouisville, Ky., assignor to The Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application September 30, 1929 Serial No. 396,104

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a metal switch and meter mounting support and has for an object the provision of 'a simple and inexpensive article which will replace the ordinary soft wood panel commonly used for the purpose. The wood panels are often selected in a haphazard manner and present difficulties by reason of the presence of knots and cracks and also because they warp when exposed to moisture. Warping after installation frequently loosens or separates wooden panels from the wooden pegs which are inserted in the walls and to which the boards are nailed. Fur-- thermore installations on wooden panels are seldom uniform and are often insecure because w0rkmen will use any expedient which may occur to them for mounting these boards and the switches and meters thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal switch and meter board structure that is standard for practically all meters and switches in use and which furthermore provides for the mounting of the switches and instruments on the board in an absolutely uniform manner with far less time and effort than is necessary with wood en panels.

. Another object is to provide a combined meter and switch box mounting support which is easily mounted on a wall and which furthermore has a portion thereof in offset relation so that clearance is provided behind it to'facilitate insertion and coupling up of conduits with the backs of switch boxes.

Another object is to provide a mounting support of the classrdescribed which may be made of relatively light metal but which is nevertheless strong and amply rigid for the purpose.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of meter and switch mounting support of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same showing a switch box and meter mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another modification of the support shown in Fig. 1.

The device of the present invention consists essentially of a pair of spacers 7 having oppositely extending flanges 8 along their one edge and connected by a mounting panel 9 spaced from flanges 8 by the width of spacer 'I. In the form shown in Fig. 1 panel 9, spacer 7 and flanges 8 are formed of an integral sheet of metal which may be as thin as 16 gauge U.S.S. Adjacent the top ends of flanges 8 are keyhole apertures 10 through the enlarged portion of which'are introduced the heads of spikes, lag screws or the like so that the mounting support may be initially hung in the desired position and other fastening means such as lag screws or spikes (not shown) may be subsequently driven through perforations 12 preferably located at the bottom and center of each of the flanges 8. A rectangular opening 13 extends upwardly from the bottom of panel 9 for such distance as to be inclusive of the location of any knock-outs in the rear wall of a switch box such as 14. Additional rounded open portions 15 are provided opposite one another and adjacent the top of opening 13. These openings coincide with the outer halves of the largest and most Widely separated knockouts found in any of the various switch boxes on the market. It will be noted that below the top edge 16 of opening 13 the spacers 7, flanges 8 and the remaining strip of panel 9 form substantially Z-shaped arms. The spaced strips 1'7 of these Z-shaped portions receive the back of a switch box such as 14 in abutment thereon and threaded holes 18 arranged in a substantially rectangular form are provided in the strip 17 and immediately above them in the panel 9 for receiving machine screws which pass through the rear wallof the box for mounting it over the opening 13. When these screws are drawn up tight the rear Wall of the box 14 renders the resulting structure very rigid and at the same time leaves the major portion of the rear outer face of the box free forthe introduction of conduits and the like (not shown) which are accessible for the tightening up of couplings by inserting a wrench into the hollow space behind'the box.

Above the space occupied by the box 14 there are provided three groups of threaded perforations 20 so arranged on the panel 9 as to coincide with the perforations in the fastening lugs 21 of a meter such as 22. The work of setting a meter after box 14 has been'installed and connected is renderedvery simple because the meter setter from the power company may place any selected meter in position on the box and find that the holes in the mounting lugs of the meter will correspond exactly to a given set of perforations in the panel 9.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the mounting of the switch and meter support is free from difficulties and that a neat workmanlike installation of that portion will always result. The contractor in installing the switch finds his work reduced to a minimum.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the meter and switch mounting support is made up of a pair of substantially Z-shaped metal members 170 each comprising a spacer portion 70, a mounting flange and switch box support strips 90.

In this form an auxiliary panel 24 provided with spaced groups of perforations 20 similar to those in panel 9 is secured to the strips 90. The panel 24 may be of metal in which case it is preferably spot-welded to the strips 90. The panel 24 however may be made of insulating material such as fiber to insulate the meter if desired. The strips are notched at 15 similarly to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 so that the resulting aperture 13 between the strips 90, is like that in Fig. 1. The mounting of this structure on a wall and the mounting of the switch box and meter on the support is as previously described.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 1. This consists of a panel 25 extending the full length of the support and having spacers 26 along opposite edges. The spacers 26 carry oppositely extending mounting flanges 27 with apertures 28 and 29 for receiving mounting screws and the like. The panel 25 has adjacent its lower end and also on a line intermediate its ends groups of conduit apertures 30. Between these is a large central aperture 31 to take care of conduits in various locations about the center of a rear wall of a box such as 14. The upper or meter portion of panel 25 is provided with the groups of threaded perforations 20 as previously described for the reception of machine screws to mount a meter.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in each of the embodiments set forth the relatively thin light metal has been made very rigid at the opposite sides by reason of the Z-shaped formation.

In its preferred form the Z-shaped portions and the panel are of an integral sheet although it will be readily understood that the practical advantages of the mounting support are present in all of the forms shown and in such modifications thereof as may be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Devices of the present invention are subject to none of the disadvantages of breakage and deterioration either'in storage by the dealer, the contactor or in actual use.

Another advantage in addition to the elimination of variations and difficulties attending the use of wooden mounting supports lies in the rigidity of the peculiar structure as outlined which precludes any humming of the meter which is often manifested when meters are mounted on wooden supports.

' A comparison in the use of wood supports and metal supports of .the present invention shows that there is a large saving in cost by the use of the latter in addition to the elimination of disadvantages attending the use of wooden supports.

It is to be understood that the lower portions of the Z-shaped members may be extended and provided with suitable threaded perforations so that independent branch circuit cabinets may be mounted immediately below the switch box.

When installed upon a wall, the combination of the mounting support, switch box, and meter is such that water or moisture which may at times collect and run down the wall cannot reach either the switch box or meter. The vertical Z-shaped portions present only their top edges to such water and the little water which may touch the flanges will flow down them. The space between the wall and support is open at top and bottom and provides an open air space between the wall and the support proper.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture a thin metal stamping formed of a single rectangular sheet and providing a switch box and meter mounting support, said stamping comprising an elongated panel member having formed in the upper portion thereof spaced groups ct allocated perforations for mounting a meter and an enlarged opening in its lower portion through which a conduit may be introduced for connection with a switch box mounted on the panel over said enlarged opening, said panel member having at its longitudinal sides rearwardly directed walls, and flanges extending from the walls in parallelism with the panel and coextensive in length with the length of the panel, said flanges being attachable to a wall with their end edges uppermost, whereby to present the least possible surface for intercepting and directing toward the panel the seepage and water of condensation from the wall on which the mounting support is at.- tached, the said extending flanges being disposed in a plane sufliciently behind the plane of the panel to permit the necessary working behind the panel for insertion of wires through the apertures of the panel and attachment of said wires to a meter and switch box that may be mounted upon the outer face of the panel.

2. A'meter and switch box mounting support comprising means presenting a substantially rectangular mounting surface and having an enlarged opening adjacent the bottom and having spaced groups of allocated perforations above said opening, spacer portions along the opposite sides of said rectangular means providing an open unobstructed way between them and behind said rectangular means and mounting flanges extending outwardly of said spacers.

3. As a new article of manufacture a meter and switch box mounting support comprising a panel portion having. an enlarged working opening adjacent the bottom thereof and combined spacing and mounting means at Opposite sides of the panel providing an unobstructed open way behind the panel and between said spacing means.

GEORGE W. SCHAFER.

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